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Inscriptions 



IN THE FIRST 



^'OLD C0HAN8EY" BURYING GROUND 

Hopewell 
Cumberland County New Jersey 

WITH A 

HISTORICAL SKETCH 

COMPILED BY 



FRANK D. ANDREWS 
Secretary Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Siuh'ty 



VINELAND NHW JERSKY 
I 9 I I 



Inscriptions 

IN THE FIRST 

'OLD COHANSEY" BURYING GROUND 

Hopewell 
Cumberland County New Jersey 

WITH A 

HISTORICAL SKETCH 

COMPILED BY 



FRANK D. ANDREWS 
Secretary Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Socicti/ 



VINELAND NEW JERSEY 
I 9 I I 



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^ PREFACE. 

A visit to the old burying ground near Sheppard's 
Mill is not without interest to those who care for the 
past Lying just beneath our feet as we reverently move 
among the graves are the remains of men and women 
who once peopled this part of the county. They were 
tenderly laid in this secluded spot so long ago, that no one 
comes here to weep over their graves and are quite for- 
gotten by the present generation who never knew them. 

What stories could they tell; these silent sleepers ly- 
ing here, of life in old colonial times; when the Indian 
dwelt by the running brook and hunted the deer in the 
forest. When the country was new and homes in "Old 
Cohansey" were won through toil and struggle, when a 
living faith and hope of a better life led these men and 
women to the church in the grave yard, where sustained 
and comforted by the preacher's word, they endured the 
privation, sickness and death that came at last to all. 

What tales could they relate, living under kingly rule, 
of British oppression and unjust taxation; of the love of 
country, of liberty, of independence, of the long years 
of war; with sorrow, sickness or death in every house- 
hold, of victory at last, of peace and happy homes. 

In the thicket where the holly grows, the stream still 
flows onward to the river, unmindful of the changes since 
the church folk at the noontide hour slacked their thirst 
with its waters, while near at hand was the church whtre 
they heard of the living waters that satisfieth the soul 

Within this enclosure they laid their loved ones, here 
they too found rest, each in their narrow cell. Surely, 
this is hallowed ground and sacred to their memory. 

Frank D. Andkkws. 

V'lNKL.^ND, N.J. 

February 22, 191 1. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

One of the old burying grounds of Cumberland Coun- 
ty in which burials ceased long ago, is located in the 
township of Hopewell not far from the Greenwich line, 
and about one mile from Cohansey River. Sheppard's 
Mill station on the New Jersey Central Railroad is less 
than half a mile distant. 

The church known as the "First Cohansey Baptist 
Church," which once stood near the centre of the present 
enclosure, was the result of a compromise between the 
early Baptist settlers who located about 1683 at Shrews- 
bury Neck; on the south side of Cohansey River and 
those who settled in 1685 on the north side, near the 
present site of Bowentown. 

Rev. Thomas Killingsworth, an Englishman of un- 
usual attainments was pastor over the settlers on the 
south side of the river, while Rev. Timothy Brooks was 
the leader on the north side, two societies, each with a 
house of worship, so they continued until the death of 
Mr. Killingsworth in 1709, when the congregations 
were induced to unite. 

The members agreed upon a new site, that of the pres- 
ent grave yard as the most convenient; with Mr. Brooks 
as minister. Here about 17 14 a church was erected. 
Mr. Brooks died two years later aiid the church was sup- 
plied once a month from Cape ^Iay. 

Rev. William Butcher was ordained as pastor in 1721, 
dying after ashort pastorate, December 12, 1724. 



4 HISTORICALSKETCH. 

Rev. Nathaniel Jenkins of Cape May, after supplying 
the church again for six years, was settled in 1730, He 
was a man of superior education and talents, active in the 
affairs of church and state. During his ministry the 
church grew in numbers and influence, a new and lar- 
ger house of worship was built in 1741, and the lot sur- 
ounding it dedicated to the burial of the dead. On the 
2d of June I 754, Mr. Jenkins ceased his earthly labors, 
much lamented. 

Rev. Robert Kelsey, an Irishman by birth, succeeded 
Mr. Jenkins in 1756. He is said to have been 'a man 
of genial character, witty and instructive in conversation, 
fervent in piety, orthodox in doctrines and faithful in 
labor." Through his records we have some knowledge 
regarding the affairs of the church during his ministry. 

He died May 30, 178 9, in the 79th year of his age and 
is buried in the church yard. 

Rev. William Rogers supplied the church after Mr. 
Kelsey 's death. He was a graduate of Rhode Island 
College 1769, a professor in the College of Philadelphia 
while serving the church here. His is one of the promi- 
nent names we meet with among the many who minis- 
tered to the people of West Jersey. It is reported twen- 
ty-three were baptised during the two years following 
the death of Mr, Kelsey. 

Rev. Henry Smalley took charge of the church July 3d 
1790. He was a recent graduate of the College of New 
Jersey and entered upon his work with commendable 
zeal, good judgement and an earnest lofty purpose. It 
was during his pastorate a more convenient site was se- 
cured and a substantial brick church erected at Roads- 
town, about two miles northwest of the former location, 
this church was dedicated in 1802. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 5 

The old house of worship was offered to the Baptists 
of Fairfield Township if they would place it in repair and 
make use of it. 

One circumstance connected with the old church i< 
worthy of notice in that period, when, during the winter 
clergymen preached in overcoat and mittens, while tlie 
congregation shivered and shook with the cold; we have 
the authority of Rev. Morgan Edwards that the church 
had a stove as early as 1789. 

Mr. Smalley's pastorate lasted forty-nine years when 
he was called to his reward. The church at Roadstown 
still stands, a fine example of the churches of the early 
nineteenth century. Close by is a well filled grave yard 
over a century old. 

In the old grave yard, the inscriptions from whose 
stones will be found in the following pages, is the burial 
place of the first white female born in Cohansey. Anoth- 
er interesting stone is that of Lieutenant Mulford, whose 
life was a sacrifice to the cause of American liberty. 

Quaint and curious are many of the in.scriptions to our 
eyes, but the same love and tenderness for the dead was 
showu then as now; when the mystery surrounding the 
change we call death seems as difficult of solution as 
ever. 



NOTE . 

In copying the time worn stones, a few mistakes were 
unavoidable. These the compiler has been able to cor- 
rect through the courtesy of Mr. Charles E. Sheppanl 
of Bridgeton, who more than a generation ago traubcrib- 
ed the names and dates. From Mr. Sheppard's manu- 
script two or three names and several initials have been 
incorporated in the list, to be found at the close of the 
inscriptions on page seventeen. 

Corrections, 

Rebeccah Bacon, Rebeccah H Bacon. 
William Bacon, 49 years, instead of 40 y^ars. 
Elijah Bowen, Dec 21. instead of Dec 25. 
Jonathan Bowen, October 10, instead of 25. 
lyUcywife of Daniel Bowen, 1775 instead of 1773. 
Jacob Harris, June 8, instead of June 3. 
Sarah wife of Samuel Harris, 1 76 1 instead of 1 763. 



INSCRIPTIONS 

In The 

FIRST "OLD COHANSEY" BURYING GROUND, 

Near Sheppard's Mill, 

HOPEWELL, 

Cumberland County, New Jersey. 

Copied, November ii, 1909. 
By 
F. D. & B. A. Andrews. 



In Memory of CORNELIUS AUSTIN who 
died May 26th 1796 Aged 5 years 7 months 

& 12 Days 

In memory of ABEL BACON who departed 
this life Feb y 9 1804 Aged 44 years 1 1 months 
& 4 days 

When Christ who is our life 
Shall appear then shall we also 
appear with him in Glory 

REBECCAH BACON Wife of Abel Bacon 

who departed this life June 17th 1801 aged 

36 years 

Her glass is run she sleeps in clay 

Unlill the Resurrection day 

In memory of ISAAC BACON who died 

April 1 2th 1854 in the 78th year of his age 



8 "OLD COHANSEY" BURYING GROUND 

lu memory of Sarah the Wife of Dauiel 

Bacon who departed this Life Decern r 8th 1791 

Aged 20 years And 3 months 

In Memory of TABITHA BACON who 

departed this Life March the nth 1800 in 

the 64 year of her Age 

In memory of WILLIAM BACON who de- 

parted this Life 15th Sept 1782 Aged 40 years 

& 10 months 

In memory of RICHARD BARKER who died 
January the 27th 1765 aged 50 years 

ELIJAH BO WEN Died Dec 25 1785 Aged 51 
years 

MARY Wife of Elijah Bowen a sincere chris- 
tian departed this Life October 13 1770 aged 
36 years 

JONATHAN BOWEN ESQ departed this 

Life October 19 1782 Aged 68 years 

My Flesh shall lest in Hope 
When CHRIST who is our 
Life shall appear 
Then shall ye also 
Appear with him in GLORY 

PHEBIE BROOKS Died the 25 July 1756 

aged 3 years 

In memory of ELIZABETH BROWN who 

departed this Life September the 9th 1784 In 
the 62d year of her age 

In memory of JACOB BROWN who 

died April 30th 1791 Aged 56 years 



'*OLD COHANSEY" burying GROUND 9 

In Memory of LUCY Wife of David Bowen 

Esq Who departed this Life Aug loth 1775" 
In the 31 year of Her Age 

She 

bowed her Head to Death 

At the kind call of JESUS her dear 

LORD & master 
Being well assured as she expressed 
Her self just before she left the world 

That to die would be her Gain 
As she lived the Life of the Righteous so 

She died the death of the Righteous 
And as a humble and sincere Christian 
Knowing as her Redemption drew nigh 

She resigned to the will of GOD 

She intreated her dear 

Friends not to mourn on her Account 

Truth not flattery speaking ore her DUST 

Would rank her Name among the GOOD and JUST 

Testify that tho' short her span 

In virtues sacred cause her Race she ran 

Struck by the Hand of Death in Bosom 

Lo truth and virtue shut into the Tomb 

But now Dear Friend Earths seeming joys Dispise 

And seek a lasting Treasure in the Sky 

In memory of JOHN DOWDNEV who depar- 
ted tins Lite February 19th 1758 Aged 57 
years 

In memory of JACOB HARRIS who Died 

June 8th 1 761 in ye JJ4 year of his Age 

In Memory of JACOB HARRIS who de- 

parted this Life Feby 13th 1798 in the 47th year 
of his Age 



lO "OLD COHANSEY" BURYING GROUND 

In Memory of James Harris who departed 
this Life Deer i8th 1795 in the 8th year of his 

age 

In Memory of MARY HARRIS who de- 

parted this Life September the 13th 1800 

Aged 17 years 

SAMUEL HARRIS departed this Life the 

i6th Day of January 1773 In the 77 year of 

his Age 

In memory of SARAH wife of SAMUEL 

HARRIS who Died June i6th 1763 Aged 64 

years 

In memory of LYDIA WIFE of JONA- 

THAN HOLMES who Departed This Life 

Septr 19th 1799 AGED 22 YEARS & 10 Months 

?Iere lieth ROBERT HOOD who died March 
ye 10 1 76 1 in the 71 year of his age 

In memory of ANN wife of Obed Hudson 
who departed this Life January 30th 1786 Aged 

31 years 

To Day ye will hear 
His voice Harden not your 
HEARTS 

In memory of Mary Hudson who died April 

19 1777 Aged 13 months 

In memory of RACHEL HUDSON who died 
march 30 1786 Aged 4 months and 18 Days 

In memory of ANN wife of HENRY HUSTED 
who died March 4th 1796 In the 31st year 

of her Age 

In memory of Rebecca Wife of Henry Husted 
who died Aug 13th 1799 In the 24th year 

'->f her Age 



"OLD COHANSEY" BURyiNG GROUND II 

In memory of PHILAH HUSTED WIFK 
of Daniel Husted who departed this life Feb ry 

27th 1800 Aged 34 Years 

In memory of DAVID IRELAN who departed 
this Life Nov r the 12th 1781 in the 3.Sth year 

of his Age 

In memory of HENRY JELLEY who de- 

parted this life May ist 1777 in the 50th year of 
His Age Who left a Donation To this Church 

In memory of MARY wife of Henry Jelley 
who departed this Life May loth 1777 

in the 60th year of her Age 

In 

memory of 

The 

Revd Robert Kelsey 

who departed this Life 

May the 30th 1789 

Aged 78 years 

Minister of this Church 

33 Years 

In memory of 
MIRIAM the wife of 

the Revd 

ROBERT KELSEY 

who died January the 8th 

1785 
Aged 62 Years 

In memory of JACOB LUDLAM who departed 
this life Jan 14th 1795 Aged 43 years 

In memory of RACHEL Wife of Jacob 

Ludlam who departed this Life July 30th 1793 
in the 36 year of her Age 

In nu'iuory of NORTON LUDLAM who 

Departed this Life November 5th 1791 In the 

39th 3 ear of his Age 



12 "OLD COBXNSEY" burying GRfOUND 

In memory of 'Providence Ludlam who de 
parted this life July the 5th 1792 in the 67th ycai 
of His Age 

In memory of SALE Y wife of Providence 

Ludlam who died March nth 1782 Aged 4.) 
years 

In Memory of BENJAMIN MULFORD who 
departed this Life Sept r ist 1784 
He Liv'd to see 
near forescore years 
And bowM his head 
To Death 

In memory of CYNTHlA wife of ttenry 

Mulford who departed this Life loth Feby 1785 
Aged 22 years 

Snatch'd off by Death that ruth less foe 

To every social bliss 

No tender ties could stay the blow 

So frail a life is this 

In memory of DAVID MULFORD 

Lieutenant of the Greenwich Militia who fell in 

a skirmish with the Hessiatis near Haddonfield 

in the STATE of NEW JERSEY in the 

year 1777 Aged 29 years 

In memory of ISAAC MULFORD who de- 

parted this life November 20 1776 in the 38 

year of his Age 

Blessed are the Dead which 
die in the LORD yea saith the 
SPIRIT that they may rest from 
their Labors and their work 
do follow them 



"OLD COHANSEY" BURYING GROUND' i ;, 

In memory of MARTHA wife of Isaac 

Mulford who died October 15 1768 Aged 26 

years 

Her Glass is run she sleeps in Clay 

Until the Resurrection Day 

In memory of OBADIAH ROBINS who -ie- 

parted this Life the 24th of Feb y 1775 Aged 67 

years 

In memory of ANANIAS SAY RE Jun who 

departed this Life January 19th 1772 Aged 44 

years 

In Memory of HANNAH the wife of Ananias 
Sayre Jun r who departed this Life February 19 

1769 Aged 38 years 

In Memory of HANNAH the last wife of 

Ananias Sayre Jun r who departed this Life 

August 13th 1 77 1 Aged 24 years 

In memory of HENRY SAYRE who departed 
this Life September 29th 1772 Aged 17 years 

In Memory of LYDIA SAYRE who departed 

this Life August 14 1773 Aged 6 years 

In memory of ICHABOD SHJPAR D 

who Departed this Life On the 22nd Day of 

April 1799 Aged 29 years 4 months and 11 days 
I was a native of this plate 
when Death did me Arest 
God called me home in 

prime of Life 
Because he thouglit it be.st 
Thomas Sheperd died June ye iS 1747 

Aged 33 years 

In r.Kin'ir\- of Enoch Shepherd who departed 

tliis lite July 24 1769 in the 59th year ot his 



14 "OLD COHANSEY" BURYING GROUND" 

RACHEL the wife of Enoch Shepherd 

departed this Life July 26th 1756 in the 43 year 

of her age 

In memory of PHOEBE wife of DAVID 

SHEPPARD who died Jany 22 1799 Aged 32 

years 

Jesus submits to his Fathers hands 

And bows his head and dies 
So all his followers die 

To take the virturous Prize 

ELIZABETH SHEPPARD died 

December 14th 1802 Aged 21 years 

In memory of EPHRAIM SHEPPARD 

who departed this Life the 8th day of May 1783 
Aged 60 years 

In memory of SARAH wife of Ephraim 

Sheppard who died January 21 1777 Aged 

51 years 

In memory of EPHRAIM SHEPPARD 

Born Aug 15 1801 Died July 9 1848 

In memory of HANNAH wife of 

HARVEY SHEPPARD who departed this Life 

June the nth 1800 Aged 24 Years 

In memory of Ichabod Sheppard son of 

Wm & Matilda Sheppard who departed this Life 
October i6th 1805 Aged one Year nine Months 

& Fifteen Days 

In memory of SARAH wife of ISAAC 

SHEPPARD who departed this Life Dec 8th 1797 
in the 32 year of her Age 

JOHN SHEPPARD died April 27th 1802 

Aged 26 years 



"OLD COHANSEY" BURYING GROUND" 15 

In Memory of PHILIP SHEPPARD who 

departed this life Jany 5th 1797 Aged 76 Years 

He was a kind Husband 
an indulgent Parent 

& a sincere Christian 

In memory of Prudence wife of NATHAN 

SHEPPARD who Died 5 March 1786 Aged 44 

Years 

Precious in the sight of the 
Lord is the Death of his Saints 

In memory of William Fox Smalley Son of 
Henry & Hannah Smalley who departed this 

April 30th i8or Aged 3 Years 5 months and 14 
days 

Short yet how pleasing 

Was his visit here 
How soon removed 

To fill a noble Sphere 

In memory of ISAAC SMITH who departed 

this life April 9th 1797 in the 53d year of 

his Age 

In memory of CYNTHIA wife of ISAAC 

SMITH who departed this Life . -2o}h of Deer 

1785 in the 37 year of her Age 

In memory of ISAAC son of Is cS: Miriam 

Smith who died Died Dec 22d 1791 Aged 

1 1 months 

In memory of HANNAH wife of JOSEPH 

SMITH who departed this Life April 171)1 1755 

in the 2Sth year of her Age 



l6 "OLD COHANSEY" burying GROUND 

In memory of 

Deborah Swinney 

who departed this Life 

the 4th Day of April 

1760 

In the 77th Year 

of her Age 

She was the first White 

Female Child born 

in Cohansey 

daughter of John Smith 

& wife of John Swinney 

In memory of JOHN SWINNEY Sen r who 

departed this Life 1756 In the 79 year of 

his age 

In memory of LYDIA WAITMAN 

who departed this Life the 2nd of April 1781 

Aged 48 years 

In memory of JOB WARE who departed 
this life March 19th 1806 Aged 45 years 3 

months and 15 days 

In memory of HANNAH WARE who depar- 
ted this Life June the 29th 1800 Aged 31 
years 

I was a native of this place 
When death did me arest 
God call'd me home in prime of life 
Because he thought it best 
In memory of JOHN WARE who departed 

this Life April 14 1773 in the 51st year of 

his Age 

In memory of ANNA wife of JOHN WARE 

who departed this Life Nov r 7ih 1793 in the 

^nth year of her age 



"OLD COHANSEY" BURYING GROUND [7 

In memory of MRS MARGERET WARE 
the affectionate wife of John Ware who departed 

this Life Decern r 27th 1798 Aged 33 years 

She was a kind mother and a good 
neighbor whose death was much 
lamented by all who knew her 
Her mind was tranquil and serene 
No terrors in her looks were seen 
A saviours smile dispel'd the gloom 
And smooth'd her passage to the Tomb 

Elizabeth ware [A child grave beside the above.] 

In memory of PHEBE wife of Daniel 

Wescot who departed this life October 15th 1798 
in the 35th year of her Age 

Her Glass is run She Sleeps in Clay 
Untill the Resurrection day 

In memory of Henry Wescoat who departed 

this Life Deer 28th 1796 aged 35 year 

Precious in the sight of the Lord 
is the death of his Sainis 

In memory of JANE wife of Heiny 

Wescott and late wife of Isaac Shepjiard who 

departed this life July i6th 1S03 in the 36ih 

year of her age 

On small stones are inscribed names or initials as follows: 
AB EB MB441791 RB 1775 SB 

Isaac Davis 1790 R D Hannah Heaton A J 

1772 Mary Kelsey 1767 D K M K 

Wm K PL S L J M Ambrose Ree(d) 1750 

AS 1795 C S Joel Sheppar d died 179^^ 
M S 1735 N S ISAAC WATSOX 

ISAAC WATSON NORTON WATSON 



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